By “What is a covid headache and how can I treat it?”
If this is something that you have been searching for, then this article is going to help you in all possible ways.
There are a number of things that people across the world experienced all together during the times of the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic. Among some of the symptoms, one very common sign was headache.
If you are someone who is searching for ways to get rid of covid headache, you have reached the right place. Keep reading this article till the end to learn more…
What Is Covid Headache?
“Headache was the first reported symptom in 84/199 (42.2%) and began along with the other symptoms of COVID-19 in 75/199 (37.7%),” a study states.
Covid-19 was a widespread viral infection that affected the entire world in 2020 and 2022. And even though it is under control in most parts of the world, doctors and scientists are still looking for ways to get rid of this infection for good.
There were several symptoms that were distinct to the infection, the most common of them being loss of smell and taste, and the unpopular covid headache.
Covid headache was one of the top five symptoms of the omicron variant as well, according to data. This headache has been linked to migraine and causes of tension. According to a review published in November 2011 in the Current Pain and Headache Reports, young people and women “seem to be more likely to experience headache in the context of COVID-19, whereas patients without headache seem to be older and more frequently men.”
If you want to know how to deal with it and what are the ways in which you can get rid of it, you have come to the right place. Keep reading this article till the end to learn more…
Causes: What Causes The Covid Headache?
While it is still not very clear as to how this can be a symptom of covid infection, there has been a number of studies done on the same that shows a slight relation between the headaches and Coronavirus infection.
One study shows that hypoxia, which is the state of absence of enough oxygen in the body tissues, “can lead to cerebral vasodilation and therefore headache.”
On the other hand, another study shows that “SARS-CoV-2 itself may activate specific pathophysiological mechanisms leading to headache, that could potentially represent (1) a direct viral invasion of the nervous system or (2) systemic factors with indirect brain effects.”
Another way for the covid-19 virus to travel to the brain would be through the bloodstream. According to the National Library of Medicines, “SARS-CoV-2 can reach the meninges through bloodstream dissemination.”
Now that you know the possible causes for the covid headache, it is time for you to learn more about the symptoms and the treatments of this. So, keep reading till the end to learn more…
Symptoms: What Are The Signs Of Covid Headache?
Are you searching for some of the symptoms of covid headache? Well, there is one thing that you need to know— there is no difference when it comes to the types of headache that you experience due to covid-19.
However, there can be certain symptoms that you might also experience when you are experiencing covid headache. Here are some of them:
- Pain on both sides of the head
- Sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch
- Pain, usually on one side of the head
- Nausea
- Pain around the eyes
- Vomiting
- Pulsing or pressing feeling
Apart from these, people also experience:
- Fever
- Loss of smell
- Sore throat
- Muscle cramps
- Loss of taste
According to a study conducted in 2022, it has been noted that the covid headache “is associated with other symptoms such as fever, sore throat, anosmia, ageusia, and myalgia, and may persist beyond the acute phase of the disease.”
Treatment: How To Treat Covid Headache?
There are a number of ways in which you can treat covid headache. Here are some of the methods of treatment for doing the same:
- Have enough rest
- Massage your head, forehead, and the temples
- Use hot compression or cold compression to your head
- Take a hot water bath to release tension.
There are a number of OTC or over the counter medicines that are available which will help you to get relief from covid headache. Some of them are:
- Aspirin
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
- Corticosteroids
When To See A Doctor?
One of the rare conditions, but extremely deadly, can be thunderclap headaches. These are some of the extremely severe headaches which start suddenly and build in intensity gradually. This type of headache is generally a sign of internal bleeding in the brain.
In case of these symptoms, you need to seek immediate medical attention:
- Difficulty in breathing
- Trouble staying awake
- Confusion
- Blue lips and nails
- Grayish or bluish face
- Pain or pressure in the chest.
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Covid Headache?
Several studies state that the covid headache generally lasts for not more than seven days. However, there are studies that state inconsistencies in the headache pattern as well. “The median duration of headache was 2 weeks, but in approximately a fifth of patients it became persistent and followed a chronic daily pattern,” according to PubMed.
Wrapping It Up!
In case you were in search of some information related to covid headache and other details like causes and treatment about it, I hope that this article has been of help to you. If there are any other queries that you might want to know about the same, please feel free to scroll down till the bottom of the page to learn more.
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